Coronavirus: Carrie Lam, cabinet, other top Hong Kong officials to donate one month’s pay to charity amid city’s battle with epidemic
- The salaries, worth more than HK$10 million, will go toward the Community Chest of Hong Kong charity organisation
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, her cabinet and other top officials are donating one month’s salary to charity amid the city’s battle with the deadly coronavirus.
In a Friday night statement that confirmed an earlier Post report, the city government said the move was intended to demonstrate their solidarity with the public.
“The disease has caused a significant impact on the local economy in the past two months. Various sectors have been hard hit, and the public has been challenged to get through these difficult times,” the statement said.
“To show that the governing team is fighting the disease and riding out the difficult times with the public, the chief executive and all politically appointed officials will donate one month’s remuneration to the Community Chest of Hong Kong for charity purposes.”
The total salaries involved, which span everyone from bureau directors to undersecretaries to non-official members of Lam’s Executive Council, will see more than HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) directed to charities under the Community Chest umbrella.
“The decision was made by Mrs. Lam, but I believe every official was [happy] to do it, as it shows we work as a team,” a source familiar with the decision said.